I was not quite 10 years old in 1973 when Secretariat captivated the country's imagination. I had no idea, of course, of the historical significance I was witnessing, but how could a not-quite-10-year-old boy who loved sports and animals not be thrilled by seeing a horse win the biggest race of his life by 31 lengths? Secretariat's Triple Crown triumph that year – his amazing Belmont Stakes victory in particular – was one of the most dominating performances in sports history. He remains one of my great sports heroes.
What could compare -- maybe a 24-year-old golfer winning the U.S. Open by 15 at Pebble Beach?
By the way, in case you're wondering, the opening lines in the trailer posted above are derived from chapter 39 of the Book of Job, verses 19-25 (I'm just sayin'):
Do you give the horse his strength
or clothe his neck with a flowing mane?
Do you make him leap like a locust,
striking terror with his proud snorting?
He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength,
and charges into the fray.
He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing;
he does not shy away from the sword.
The quiver rattles against his side,
along with the flashing spear and lance.
In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground;
he cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.
At the blast of the trumpet he snorts, 'Aha!'
He catches the scent of battle from afar,
the shout of commanders and the battle cry.
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